Madan Puraskar awarded to Bina Joshi’s book on traditional Newar masked dances

KATHMANDU: The Madan Puraskar Guthi has decided to confer the 2082 Madan Puraskar on Bina Joshi (Rajbhandari) for her book Newar Samudayaka Paramparagat Mukundonacha (Newa: Community Traditional Khwapa: Pyakhan).

The decision was taken at the Guthi’s general assembly on Sunday in recognition of the book’s collection and documentation of dance traditions practiced within the community.

A total of 298 books had been submitted for this year’s Madan Puraskar. Ten books were shortlisted for the Madan Puraskar Shrestha List 2082, including Ajnaat by Keshab Raj Gyawali, Itha by Keshav Dahal, Utkarsha by Lalit Bista, History of Simraungadh Linked to Nepal Mandala by Roshan Kumar Jha, Traditional Masked Dances of the Newar Community by Bina Joshi Rajbhandari, Paridhi by Uma Subedi, Mahayug by Seema Aabhas, Salah by Shravan Mukarung, Swasparsha by Dr Nawaraj KC and Hiund by Nadish.

Likewise, the Guthi has decided to confer the 2082 Jagadambashree Award on lyricist Kiran Kharel for his six decades of contribution to Nepali songwriting.

The general assembly also paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the devastating floods and landslides of Bhadra 10 and expressed condolences to the bereaved families.

The meeting wished for the swift rescue of those still missing and the speedy recovery of the injured, while expressing appreciation to all those involved in rescue and relief efforts and those who extended support to affected communities.

Established in 2012 BS, the Madan Puraskar was first awarded in 2013 BS in three categories. Satyamohan Joshi received the award for prose for Hamro Lok Sanskriti, Chittaranjan Nepali for social sciences for General Bhimsen Thapa ra Tatkalin Nepal, and Balaram Joshi for science for Adhikvibhav Sthirvidyut Utpadak.

The Jagadambashree Award was established in 2045 BS following the death of Rani Jagadamba in her memory. The award was first presented to renowned singer Narayan Gopal.

The Madan Puraskar is awarded annually to one book published in Nepali in Nepal or abroad, while the Jagadambashree Award is presented to an individual or institution that has made a significant contribution to the promotion and development of the Nepali language, literature and culture.